Hike Gokyo - Dragnang

Crossing the glacier Ngozumba

Petr Liška

Wrote 2420 articles and follows him / her 243 travelers

Hiking Nature

Inserted: 22.08.2014

They been there:

If you want to cross Cho la pass, you have no other choice but to walk over the glacier Ngozumba to Dragnang (4 679 m asl). Certainly do not stick to the printed map, because the way constantly changes thanks to the movement of the glacier. Ask for sure already at the lodge in Gokyo, where the starting point to the glacier currently is. The path is sometimes marked by stone cairns. And consider also the fact that you can lose your way easily in bad weather.

Pools on the glacier Ngozumba

Once you ascend to the moraine, you will realize what is waiting you for now. Before you is a maze of rubble piles, dozens of lakes and echoing sounds from the moving glacier, which is sticking out of the stones only in a few places, but you know it is all the time under you.

Author: © gigaplaces.com

The way along the glacier Ngozumba

The way across the glacier is a little depressing and due to the incessant sounds also a little scary. If you have „luck“ to bad weather, this atmosphere will be also enhanced by low clouds and fog. In addition, you may not meet a living soul here, which can evoke a feeling that you have lost.

Author: © gigaplaces.com

Maze in the ice

Relatively comfortable path along the glacier is spinning back and forth, up and down. It is getting lost in a few places for a moment, so it is good that there are cairns showing the way reliably.

Author: © gigaplaces.com

Dragnag

Crossing of the glacier lasts much longer than you would expect at first glance. Finally, before you are fluttering ribbons that welcome you on the other side. Now, only a few hundred meters through „normal“ landscape on sloping plateau and you are in sight of two lodges in Dragnang.